Restricted rocker spring assembly

ABSTRACT

A furniture member rocker spring assembly includes first and second bracket members arranged in mirror image configuration. First and second springs are positioned between and in direct contact with each of the first and second bracket members. A restrictor bolt assembly is positioned intermediately between the first and second springs. The restrictor bolt assembly includes at least one sleeve member received in an aperture of the first and second bracket members and a fastener that extends through a sleeve bore in the sleeve member. The sleeve member is arranged in sliding contact with at least one of the first and second bracket members.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/782,835 filed on Mar. 1, 2013, which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to rocker springs and rocker springassemblies used in furniture members.

BACKGROUND

This section provides background information related to the presentdisclosure which is not necessarily prior art.

Known rocker spring assemblies for furniture members have either one ortwo coiled springs that are captured between bracket members, one of thebracket members is mounted to a furniture member support frame. Theother of the bracket members is mounted to a furniture member body.During rocking motion of the furniture member one of the springs isextended with respect to the other spring. A biasing force of theextended spring helps to return the furniture member to a neutralposition ready for rocking in either of a forward or rearward rockingdirection.

Known rocker spring assemblies such as that presented in U.S. Pat. No.5,567,009 to Fay et al. discloses two limit rods. The limit rods areeach positioned outside of both of the springs and have stop membersformed on the ends of the rods, for example by a stamping operation,after the stop members are positioned between the bracket members.Stamping the rods after installation requires a forming operating beperformed on the entire assembly, and the use of metal limit rodmaterial can result in frictional noise.

SUMMARY

This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not acomprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.

According to several aspects, a furniture member rocker spring assemblyincludes first and second bracket members. At least one spring ispositioned between and in direct contact with each of the first andsecond bracket members. A restrictor bolt assembly extends through eachof the first and second bracket members. The restrictor bolt assemblyincludes at least one sleeve member received in an aperture of and insliding contact with the first and second bracket members. A fastener isreceived through a sleeve bore of the at least one sleeve member.

According to other aspects, a furniture member rocker spring assemblyincludes first and second bracket members arranged in mirror imageconfiguration. First and second springs are positioned between and indirect contact with each of the first and second bracket members. Arestrictor bolt assembly is positioned between the first and secondsprings. The restrictor bolt assembly includes first and second sleevemembers individually received in an aperture of one of the first orsecond bracket members. The first and second sleeve members are insliding contact with the first and second bracket members. A fastenerextends through a sleeve bore of each of the first and second sleevemembers. The fastener retains the first sleeve member in contact withthe second sleeve member.

According to further aspects, a furniture member rocker spring assemblyincludes first and second bracket members arranged in mirror imageconfiguration. The first bracket member is connected to a rocker memberof a rocking furniture member and the second bracket member is connectedto a seat support frame of the rocking furniture member. First andsecond springs are positioned between and in direct contact with each ofthe first and second bracket members. A restrictor bolt assembly ispositioned between the first and second springs and includes first andsecond sleeve members individually received in sliding contact with anaperture of one of the first or second bracket members. A fastenerextends through a sleeve bore of each of the first and second sleevemembers. The fastener retains the first sleeve member in contact withthe second sleeve member. A flared end of each of the first and secondsleeve members has a diameter larger than a diameter of the aperture ofthe first and second bracket members.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the descriptionprovided herein. The description and specific examples in this summaryare intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended tolimit the scope of the present disclosure.

DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only ofselected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are notintended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a front left perspective view of a rocker spring assembly ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the rocker spring assembly of FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the rocker spring assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional front elevational view taken at section 4 ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional end elevational view taken at section 5 ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a rear right perspective view of the rocker spring assembly ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a partial side elevational view of a furniture member having arocker spring assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a partial side elevational view of the furniture member ofFIG. 7 in a rear rocked position; and

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional front elevational view similar to FIG. 4 ofanother aspect of a rocker spring assembly.

Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference tothe accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1, a rocker spring assembly 10 includes a first coiledspring 12 positioned proximate to a parallel second coiled spring 14.Each of the first and second coiled springs 12, 14 are mounted to afirst bracket member 16 and an oppositely arranged second bracket member18. The first and second bracket members are substantially identical andconfigured in mirror image configuration; therefore, the followingdiscussion of the first bracket member 16 applies equally to the secondbracket member 18.

The first bracket member 16 includes a first mounting flange 20 which isoriented substantially normal with respect to a second mounting flange22. The second bracket member 18 similarly includes a second mountingflange 20′ and a second support flange 22′. Each of the first and secondcoiled springs 12, 14 are retained in position with respect to the firstsupport flange 22 using raised alignment members. These include for eachof the first and second coiled springs 12, 14 a first raised alignmentmember 24 and a second raised alignment member 26 which can be formed bystamping or drawing material of the first support flange 22 in an upwarddirection as shown with respect to FIG. 1. Each of the first and secondraised alignment members 24, 26 (third and fourth raised alignmentmembers 24′, 26′ are provided for second coiled spring 14) are generallytriangular shaped with a raised end raised with respect to an outerfacing surface 28 which can directly contact and therefore align aninner perimeter edge 30 of each of the first and second coiled springs12, 14.

Each of the first and second raised alignment members 24, 26 contactonly the inner perimeter edge 30 of a first end coil member of each ofthe first and second coiled springs 12, 14. The first end coil member 32is separated from the remaining coil members and therefore is positionedin direct contact with the outer facing surface 28 of first supportflange 22. In addition to the first and second raised alignment members24, 26 being in direct contact with the first end coil member 32, thefirst support flange 22 also provides a tab 34 which integrally extendsfrom first support flange 22 and partially encircles the first end coilmember 32 to act as a positive engagement member, thereby restrainingthe first end coil member 32. As a second positive restraint of thefirst end coil member 32, a restraining bar 36 formed of the samematerial of first support flange 22 also assists in capturing the firstend coil member 32. A second end coil member 38 of each of the first andsecond coiled springs 12, 14 is similarly captured and restrained by thesecond support flange 22′ of second bracket member 18.

To positively couple the first and second bracket members 16, 18 ofrocker spring assembly 10, a single restrictor member in the form of arestrictor bolt assembly 40 is used. Restrictor bolt assembly 40 iscentrally positioned between each of the first and second coiled springs12, 14 and extends through axially aligned apertures created in each ofthe first support flange 22 and second support flange 22′, as will bedescribed in greater detail in reference to FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 2 and again to FIG. 1, the restrictor bolt assembly 40includes a first sleeve member 42 which is slidably received throughfirst support flange 22, and a second sleeve member 44 which is slidablyreceived through second support flange 22′. The first and second sleevemembers 42, 44 are aligned coaxial to each other and directly contacteach other, defining a sleeve contact joint 46. The first and secondcoiled springs 12, 14 are shown in a fully compressed condition;therefore, a portion of second sleeve member 44 extends beyond secondsupport flange 22′ to allow for displacement between first and secondsupport flanges 22, 22′ as the first and second coiled springs 12, 14expand toward their fully extended condition during operation. Afastener nut such as a stub fastener 48 is received at a free end ofsecond sleeve member 44, which stops travel of the second support flange22′ away from the first support flange 22 thereby defining a maximumextension limit of the first and second coiled springs 12, 14.

Referring to FIG. 3 and again to FIGS. 1 and 2, the restrictor boltassembly 40 is positioned at an equally spaced position between each ofthe first and second coiled springs 12, 14. A spring spacing “A₁”between a longitudinal centerline of first coiled spring 12 and thelongitudinal centerline of restrictor bolt assembly 40 is substantiallyequal to a spring spacing “A₂” between the centerline of restrictor boltassembly 40 and an axial centerline of second coiled spring 14.

Referring to FIG. 4 and again to FIG. 3, the first and second sleevemembers 42, 44 of restrictor bolt assembly 40 are assembled by insertionof a threaded screw as a fastener 50 having a threaded shank 52 slidablyreceived through each of a first sleeve bore 54 of the first sleevemember 42 and subsequently through a second sleeve bore 56 of the secondsleeve member 44. An engagement end 58 of the threaded shank 52 isthreadably engaged with a threaded bore 60 created in the stub fastener48. When assembled, a barrel portion 61 of the stub fastener 48 isslidably received in an inner bore 62 of the second sleeve member 44.

The first sleeve member 42 is slidably received in a first assemblyaperture 64 of first support flange 22 having a diameter “D₁”. Toprevent the pullout of first sleeve member 42 with respect to firstsupport flange 22, a first flared end 66 is created in first sleevemember 42 which has a diameter “D₂” larger than diameter “D₁” of firstassembly aperture 64. A screw head 68 of threaded screw 50 also has adiameter “D₃” substantially equal to or greater than diameter “D₂” ofthe first flared end 66. The first flared end 66 provides positivecontact with first support flange 22, preventing displacement of firstsleeve member 42 through first assembly aperture 64 in a downwarddirection as viewed with respect to FIG. 4. Similarly, the second sleevemember 44 is slidably received in a second assembly aperture 70 ofsecond support flange 22′ also having diameter “D₁”. A second flared end72 is created in second sleeve member 44 which has a diameter “D₂”larger than diameter “D₁” of second assembly aperture 70. The stubfastener 48 also has a diameter “D₄” larger than the diameter “D₁” ofsecond assembly aperture 70. The second flared end 72 provides positivecontact with second support flange 22′, preventing displacement ofsecond sleeve member 44 through second assembly aperture 70 in an upwarddirection as viewed with respect to FIG. 4.

Together, the stub fastener 48 and the second flared end 72 prevent thesliding release or pullout of second sleeve member 44 with respect tosecond assembly aperture 70. In the configuration shown in FIG. 4, thefirst and second coiled springs 12, 14 are shown in a fully compressedcondition. As the first and second coiled springs 12, 14 expand duringuse, the second support flange 22′ will displace downwardly, as viewedwith respect to FIG. 4 with respect to the first support flange 22,until the maximum extent of extension is reached when the first flaredend 66 contacts first support flange 22 and the second flared end 72contacts second support flange 22′. As previously noted, each of thefirst and second assembly apertures 64, 70 have diameter “D₁” which islarger than a diameter “D₅” of the first and second sleeve members 42,44, allowing sliding displacement of the first and second sleeve members42, 44 within the first and second assembly apertures 64, 70.

Referring to FIG. 5 and again to FIG. 4, a restrictor bolt workinglength “B” is defined between the first and second flared ends 66, 72.The restrictor bolt working length “B” defines a maximum displacementdistance permitted between the first and second support flanges 22, 22′.A support flange spacing “C” can vary between a minimum when the firstand second coiled springs are fully compressed to a maximum when flaredends 66,72 contact first and second support flanges 22, 22′. At theminimum support flange spacing “C” shown and at all support flangespacings “C” the sleeve contact joint 46 is always positioned freelyaway from either the first or second support flange 22, 22′ such thatthe sleeve contact joint 46 cannot enter either of the first or secondassembly apertures 64, 70 and therefore bind within either of theapertures.

Referring to FIG. 6 and again to FIGS. 3-5, each of the restraining bars36, 36′ can further include opposed first and second slot ends 73, 74 intwo locations, each corresponding to direct contact locations betweenthe restraining bars 36, 36′ and the first and second end coil members32, 38, of the first and second coiled springs 12, 14 respectively. Thefirst and second slot ends 73, 74 are spaced from each other at adistance which is less than an outer diameter of the first and secondend coil members 32, 38 to frictionally restrain the first and secondcoiled springs 12, 14. The stub fastener 48 can also be provided with anAllen wrench socket 75 or a similar engagement device providing forpositive engagement by a tool when the opposite end or screw head 68 ofthreaded screw 50 is being tightened.

Referring to FIG. 7 and again to FIGS. 1-6, an exemplary one of tworocker spring assemblies 10, which are used to rotatably connectportions of a rocking furniture member 76 together, is shown. Therocking furniture member 76 is depicted as a rocking chair; however, thedesign of the rocking furniture member 76 is not limited to chairs andcan also include sofa sections, ottomans, and the like. The rockingfurniture member 76 can include a first arm 78 having a seat backassembly 80 which is rotatable with respect thereto. A seat pan 82 canbe rotatably connected to the seat back assembly 80 such that the seatpan 82 can displace as the seat back assembly 80 rotates. Each of theseat back assembly 80 and the seat pan 82 are connected to the first arm78. The first arm 78 is rotatably connected to a seat support frame 84using rocker spring assembly 10. A rocker member 86 is fixed to an armframe face 88 of the first arm 78, and the first support flange 22 ofrocker spring assembly 10 is fixed to the rocker member 86.

The second support flange 22′ of rocker spring assembly 10 is fixed tothe seat support frame 84. The rocker member 86 includes a convex curvedsurface 90 which is positioned in contact with a planar face 92 which isupwardly directed from the seat support frame 84. A rocking motion ofthe rocking furniture member 76 is therefore permitted by contactbetween convex curved surface 90 and the planar face 92, with the firstand second coiled springs 12, 14 acting as rotation biasing members. Therestrictor bolt assembly 40 positioned between the first and secondcoiled springs 12, 14 acts as the limiter for maximum spacing betweenthe first and second support flanges 22, 22′, and therefore limitingextension of the first and second coiled springs 12, 14 during therocking motion. The seat support frame 84 is supported on a floorsurface 94 which is commonly planar to provide stable support for theseat support frame 84 during the rocking motions of rocking furnituremember 76.

Referring to FIG. 8 and again to FIG. 7, the rocking furniture memberfirst arm 78 and seat back member 80 are shown in a furthest rearwardrocked position in a rearward rocking direction “E” by rotation of firstsupport flange 22 with respect to seat support frame 84. At thisposition, a rocking contact point 96 is created between the convexcurved surface 90 of rocker member 86 and the planar face 92 of seatsupport frame 84. The position of rocking contact point 96 is rearwardof the position of restrictor bolt assembly 40. This spacing differencebetween rocking contact point 96 and the position of restrictor boltassembly 40 provides for a maximum extension of second coiled spring 14and a less-than-maximum extension of first coiled spring 12. Therestrictor bolt assembly 40 acts to provide a limiter for thedisplacement between first support flange 22 and second support flange22′ of rocker spring assembly 10. In an oppositely rotated position ofthe rocking furniture member 76 defining a forward rocked position, thefirst coiled spring 12 can be extended to its maximum extent while thesecond coiled spring 14 is extended to less than its maximum extent,using the restrictor bolt assembly 40 to limit the maximum displacementbetween the first and second support flanges 22, 22′.

Referring to FIG. 9 and again to FIGS. 1-8, a rocker spring assembly 100can be directly substituted for rocker spring assembly 10. Rocker springassembly 100 includes many of the same components as rocker springassembly 10 and is differentiated by the use of a restrictor boltassembly 102 instead of restrictor bolt assembly 40. Restrictor boltassembly 102 includes a single sleeve member 104 made of a polymericmaterial that is slidingly received in both the first and secondassembly apertures 64, 70. Sleeve 104 has a diameter “D₅” similar tofirst and second sleeve members 42, 44. A fastener 106 has a threadedshank 108 extending entirely through a bore 110 of the sleeve 104. Afirst washer 112 is positioned in direct contact at a free end 114 ofsleeve 104. First washer 112 has a diameter “D₆” which is larger thanthe diameter “D₁” of first and second assembly apertures 64, 70. Afastener head 116 of fastener 106 contacts first washer 112. A secondwasher 118 is positioned in direct contact at a free end 120 of sleeve104. Second washer 118 also has diameter “D₆” which is larger than thediameter “D₁” of first and second assembly apertures 64, 70.

A fastener nut 122 is threadably engaged with a threaded end 124 offastener 106, with fastener nut 122 in direct contact with second washer118. The first and second washers 112, 118 provide positive travel stopsfor rocker spring assembly 100, defining the maximum displacementdistance between first and second support flanges 22, 22′. Because firstand second washers 112, 118 take the place of the first and secondflared ends 66, 72 of restrictor bolt assembly 40, the first and secondwashers 112, 118 are also made of a polymeric material to prevent anymetal portion of fastener 106 or fastener nut 122 from contacting thefirst or second support flanges 22, 22′ of the first or second bracketmembers 16, 18.

According to several aspects, a furniture member rocker spring assembly10, 100 includes first and second bracket members 16, 18. At least onespring 12, 14 is positioned between and in direct contact with each ofthe first and second bracket members 16, 18. A restrictor bolt assembly40, 102 extends through each of the first and second bracket members 16,18. The restrictor bolt assembly includes at least one sleeve member 42,44 or 104 received in an aperture 64, 70 of and in sliding contact withthe first and second bracket members 16, 18. A fastener 50, 106 isreceived through a sleeve bore 54, 56 or 110 of the at least one sleevemember 42, 44 or 104.

According to other aspects, a furniture member rocker spring assembly10, 100 includes first and second bracket members 16, 18 arranged inmirror image configuration. First and second springs 12, 14 arepositioned between and in direct contact with each of the first andsecond bracket members 16, 18. A restrictor bolt assembly 40, 102 ispositioned between the first and second springs 12, 14. The restrictorbolt assembly 40, 102 includes at least one sleeve member 42, 44 or 104received in an aperture 64, 70 of the first and second bracket members16, 18. The sleeve member 42, 44 or 104 is in sliding contact with thefirst and second bracket members 16, 18. A fastener 50, 106 extendsthrough a sleeve bore 54, 56 or 110 of each of the first and secondsleeve members 42, 44 or 104. The fastener 50, 106 retains the firstsleeve member in contact with the second sleeve member.

Restrictor bolt assemblies 40 used with rocker spring assemblies 10, 100and restrictor bolt assemblies 102 used with rocker spring assemblies100 offer several advantages. These include having the restrictor boltassembly 40, 102 positioned directly between the first and second coiledsprings 12, 14. This central positioning of restrictor bolt assembly 40,102 allows either one of the first or second coiled springs 12, 14 toextend to a maximum extent while the second of the coiled springsreaches less than its maximum extended position. The central location ofrestrictor bolt assembly 40, 102 also balances the operating forcesbetween first and second support flanges 22, 22′ during rotation of therocker spring assembly 10, 100. Further, the design of the first andsecond sleeve members 42, 44 having a common single threaded screw 50extending through both the first and second sleeve members 42, 44,and/or the single sleeve member 104 having fastener 106 extendingthrough single sleeve 104 provides assemblies that can be mechanicallyfastened at the time of construction of rocker spring assembly 10, 100providing a simpler operation than a staking or pressing operationpreviously required to lock the restraining bolt of known rocker springassemblies. In addition, the material of first and second sleeve members42, 44 or 104 is a polymeric material which is selected to mitigateagainst the first and second sleeve members 42, 44 or 104 and/or thethreaded screw 50, 106 from defining a noise-generating portion of therocker spring assembly 10, 100. The polymeric material of the first andsecond sleeve members 42, 44 or 104 has a low coefficient of frictionallowing free sliding displacement during operation, while preventingmetal-to-metal contact which could cause squeaking noise.

Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will bethorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled inthe art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples ofspecific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thoroughunderstanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will beapparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not beemployed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many differentforms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of thedisclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes,well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are notdescribed in detail.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularexample embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As usedherein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” may be intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “including,” and“having,” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of statedfeatures, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, butdo not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features,integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groupsthereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described hereinare not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance inthe particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specificallyidentified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood thatadditional or alternative steps may be employed.

When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,”“connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may bedirectly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element orlayer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast,when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engagedto,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another elementor layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Otherwords used to describe the relationship between elements should beinterpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directlybetween,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein,the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more ofthe associated listed items.

Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein todescribe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections,these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should notbe limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguishone element, component, region, layer or section from another region,layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numericalterms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearlyindicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region,layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element,component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachingsof the example embodiments.

Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,”“lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease ofdescription to describe one element or feature's relationship to anotherelement(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatiallyrelative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations ofthe device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depictedin the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turnedover, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements orfeatures would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features.Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation ofabove and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptorsused herein interpreted accordingly.

The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided forpurposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or featuresof a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particularembodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be usedin a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described.The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to beregarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modificationsare intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A furniture member rocker spring assembly,comprising: first and second bracket members arranged in mirror imageconfiguration, the first bracket member connected to a rocker member ofa rocking furniture member and the second bracket member connected to aseat support frame of the rocking furniture member; first and secondsprings each extending between and directly contacting the first andsecond bracket members, the first and second springs being spaced apartfrom each other and defining an intermediate region that extends betweenthe first and second springs; and a single restrictor bolt assemblypositioned between the first and second springs, the single restrictorbolt assembly including: at least one sleeve member received in slidingcontact with an aperture in the first bracket member; and an elongatedfastener extending through a sleeve bore of the at least one sleevemember, the elongated fastener extending between the first and secondbracket members at a position located in the intermediate region definedbetween the first and second springs.
 2. The furniture member rockerspring assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second springshas a longitudinal centerline and the single restrictor bolt assemblyhas a longitudinal centerline that is spaced equidistant from thelongitudinal centerlines of the first and second springs.
 3. Thefurniture member rocker spring assembly of claim 2, wherein each of thefirst and second bracket members includes a first mounting flange and asecond mounting flange, the first mounting flange oriented substantiallynormal to the second mounting flange, and the second mounting flangecontacting the first and second springs.
 4. The furniture member rockerspring assembly of claim 3, wherein the longitudinal centerlines of thefirst and second springs are parallel and extend in a common plane andwherein the longitudinal centerline of the single restrictor boltassembly is parallel to the longitudinal centerlines of the first andsecond springs and is positioned between the first mounting flange ofthe first and second bracket members and the common plane defined by thelongitudinal centerlines of the first and second springs.
 5. Thefurniture member rocker spring assembly of claim 3, wherein the secondmounting flange of the first bracket member includes an outer facingsurface with raised alignment members that contact and position thefirst and second springs and wherein the single restrictor bolt assemblyis positioned between the raised alignment members that contact thefirst spring and the raised alignment members that contact the secondspring.
 6. The furniture member rocker spring assembly of claim 3,wherein the longitudinal centerlines of the first and second springsextend in a common plane and wherein the longitudinal centerline of thesingle restrictor bolt assembly is positioned between the common planeand the first mounting flange of the first and second bracket members.7. The furniture member rocker spring assembly of claim 1, wherein theat least one sleeve member includes a first sleeve member and a secondsleeve member, the first and second sleeve members each has a flaredend, and the elongated fastener includes a fastener head in contact withthe flared end of the first sleeve member.
 8. The furniture memberrocker spring assembly of claim 7, wherein the first sleeve member isslidingly received in the aperture in the first bracket member andwherein the second bracket member includes an aperture that slidinglyreceives the second sleeve member.
 9. The furniture member rocker springassembly of claim 8, wherein a diameter of both of the first and secondsleeves is less than a diameter of the apertures in the first and secondbracket members to permit sliding motion of the first and second sleevesin the apertures of the first and second bracket members.
 10. Thefurniture member rocker spring assembly of claim 9, wherein the flaredends of the first and second sleeve members have diameters that arelarger than the diameter of the apertures in the first and secondbracket members.
 11. The furniture member rocker spring assembly ofclaim 7, wherein the flared ends are individually positioned at oppositeouter facing surfaces of the first and second bracket members, theflared ends operably contacting the first and second bracket members ata maximum extended position of the first and second bracket members tolimit a maximum displacement between the first bracket member and thesecond bracket member.
 12. The furniture member rocker spring assemblyof claim 7, wherein the first and second sleeve members are alignedcoaxially to each other.
 13. The furniture member rocker spring assemblyof claim 7, wherein the elongated fastener includes a threaded endopposite the fastener head that threadably engages the second sleevemember.
 14. The furniture member rocker spring assembly of claim 7,further comprising a stub fastener having a threaded bore engaging athreaded end of the elongated fastener, wherein the stub fastenerincludes a wrench socket that allows the stub fastener to be retainedagainst rotation when the elongated fastener is rotated to engage thethreaded end of the elongated fastener with the threaded bore of thestub fastener, and wherein a portion of the stub fastener is received inthe second sleeve member.
 15. The furniture member rocker springassembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one sleeve member is apolymeric material that prevents metal-to-metal contact between theelongated fastener and the first and second bracket members.
 16. Thefurniture member rocker spring assembly of claim 1, wherein the at leastone sleeve member extends longitudinally beyond both of the first andsecond bracket members and prevents the elongated fastener fromcontacting the first and second bracket members in any position of thefirst and second bracket members.
 17. The furniture member rocker springassembly of claim 1, wherein a spacing between the restrictor boltassembly and the first spring is equal to a spacing between therestrictor bolt assembly and the second spring.
 18. A furniture memberrocker spring assembly, comprising: a first bracket member connected toa rocker member of a rocking furniture member; a second bracket memberconnected to a seat support frame of the rocking furniture member, thesecond bracket member being spaced from and arranged in mirror imageconfiguration with the first bracket member; first and second springseach extending between and directly contacting the first and secondbracket members, the first and second springs being spaced apart fromeach other and defining an intermediate region that extends between thefirst and second springs; and a single restrictor bolt assemblypositioned intermediately between the first and second springs, thesingle restrictor bolt assembly including: at least one sleeve memberreceived in sliding contact with an aperture in one of the first orsecond bracket members; and a fastener extending through a sleeve boreof the at least one sleeve member, the fastener extending between thefirst and second bracket members at a position located in theintermediate region between the first and second springs.
 19. Thefurniture member rocker spring assembly of claim 18, wherein each of thefirst and second springs has a longitudinal centerline and the singlerestrictor bolt assembly has a longitudinal centerline that is spacedequidistant from the longitudinal centerlines of the first and secondsprings.
 20. The furniture member rocker spring assembly of claim 19,wherein each of the first and second bracket members includes a firstmounting flange and a second mounting flange, the second mounting flangeextending perpendicularly from the first mounting flange, and the secondmounting flange contacting the first and second springs.